Archive for August, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/29/magazine/womens-tennis.html?src=tptw
Amazing video highlighting the beauty, focus, concentration, and sheer elegance of the athletic female form in super slo mo.
There’s also a photo slideshow at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/29/magazine/tennis-hard-hitters.html
Great stuff!
“I never saw a wild thing
sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.”
– D.H. Lawrence
(‘G.I. Jane’ is a great movie-reminder of this.)
We choose our paths…
It all started two weeks ago with an innocent email from a friend – “I’m doing a track day at HPR on the 13th, who’s in?” Well, in reality “it” started when I was a child, but has been slumbering beneath the surface, dormant for seven years. This latest email was just the most recent step in the process of reawakening “it”…
Thursday evening rolls around and I’m ashamedly unprepared for Friday. I knew far less than I should about Luci, my recently-acquired 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, particularly on the eve before our first track day together. Hsun had emailed me a list of his “bare minimum” Evo track day prep, and I hadn’t accomplished squat yet.
As I was driving home after dinner with the boy, I was mulling over what remained to be done for me to consider myself prepared for the day ahead. Luci had been running strong, with no indications of anything astray, despite my now-fading paranoia about every odd sound I heard. As I continued, I began dwelling on all the negative things that could happen the next day: “What I wreck the car? What if someone crashes into me? What if I oversleep? What if the car blows up? It’ll be Friday the 13th, for cryin’ out loud!”
The Fears had raised their ugly heads.
Again.
I reminded myself that negative thoughts are weak and that, should I chicken out, I would regret it for untold days. I also reminded myself that, for lack of a better term, The Universe was sending me copious signals that it’s time to get back into racing – particularly Rally. (Latest: Tanner Foust’s Manager not only commented on Luci when he saw her, but his son is on my boy’s football team – if that’s not a Universal Nudge, I don’t know what is!) 😉
Still sitting on the fence, I told myself to just get the spare gas can and fill it up. I didn’t have to commit yet – just take the first step.
I returned home and finished up some work I needed to do for a client. The sun had set and the light was beginning to fade as I opened the HPR website to register. “I can register online tonight, save ten bucks, and even if I oversleep and don’t make the required drivers’ meeting at 7:45am, at least I’m covered if one of the guys will let me drive.” I paid the half-day fee, printed out the receipt, and went down to the garage to organize the remainder of what I’d need for the next day.
I couldn’t find my torque wrench, or even a standard ratchet for torquing the lug nuts. (Apparently, they tend to come loose on track days.) I trusted my friends would have one at the track, but covered my bases by borrowing one from my neighbor.
Having all the ducks I could manage in a row, I set my alarm for 5:30am and crawled into bed at 11:00pm.
I loaded the car and hit the road at 6am, as planned. Ten minutes out, The Fears reminded me that I had left the receipt on the counter… “Great. Just great.”
Thoughts like “What if they have a system error and I don’t have proof of registration?” ran through my mind. I considered going back for the receipt, but the extra 20 minutes’ drive time would mean I’d probably have to speed to get to the track before the drivers’ meeting, and I didn’t want the additional stress that would evoke. I opted to trust the HPR system worked properly and continued along my way.
As I drove east over the rolling plains, I was increasingly welcomed by ther ising sun’s rays illuminating the morning mist, which surrounded the occasional hilltop farmhouse surrounded by green fields. Breathtaking and serene, very calming.
After topping off the tank in Byers, I continued east for 18 miles through the open countryside. As I drew near my destination, I crested a final hill and beheld the track below. My worries instantly disappeared and a huge grin spread across my face.
To further add to my excitement, I was greeted at the gate by “You have a beautiful car” – nice words from a stranger.
After checking in, I attended the drivers’ meeting, where track conditions and driving rules were reviewed. There were going to be two alternating 30 minute sessions: “fast” and “slow.”
Since it was a lapping day and not a formal practice or race day, anyone could bring their car to the track and drive. Drivers were reminded that there might be people out during our sessions who had never been on a track before, who didn’t know the racing lines (or even what “lines” were), and that there could be massive speed differentials between vehicles. While there were no restrictions on where one could pass, “Gentlemen’s Rules” were in effect – give the other cars plenty of room, no dive-bombing corners, and it was the passer’s obligation to get by in a safe manner. Essentially, as Wil Wheaton (@wilw) would say, “Don’t be a dick.”
After the drivers’ meeting I went to the informal drivers’ school for track noobs. I had never been to HPR before and we were running the full 2.5 mile, 15-turn track, so I wanted to get all the beta I could before going on track. One of the managers, “Mr. Winning,” went over the course turn-by-turn, giving us tips from his extensive experience – where to be on what corners, what few visual references to look for, where to place the car for optimal turn entry and exit. A 10 minute primer for the day ahead.
When the five-minute notice came on the loudspeaker, I looked around to see if Hsun would ride with me and share his insights on the track. I didn’t see him around and thus figured he had gone out with Mason for the first session, so I got into the car, put on my helmet, and spent a quiet moment getting centered. A quick glimpse around showed Hsun approaching from pit wall, and that last little bit of worry left me. I closed my eyes, re-focused, and reminded myself to take it easy out there. Hsun grabbed his helmet, got in and we rolled out with the “slow” group.
The first few laps were relatively slow as I learned both the track and how the car handled. Hsun was giving me tips on where I should turn later, what lines were faster, where to brake, etc. Of particular use was his insight on the substantial difference a mere two feet can make in Turn 5. I managed to keep the car on the track (mostly) despite experiencing the “Red Mist” after a few laps, and pulled in just before the end of session.
I sat out the next “slow” session, opting to let the car rest and allowing myself time to process the first session.
(Mason reminded me how to be fast)
This was my time to roll it alone. I had a general understanding of the track layout. I knew where the nasty turns were. Time to let Luci loose a bit.
After warming up the tires, I started charging. Within a lap or two I was passing most of the “slow” drivers. I discovered that, with sub-optimal Turn 2/3 corner exit, Luci would only reach 120mph on the front straight. Nevertheless, I passed people wherever I could. =)
As a result, it didn’t take long for me to cook my brakes. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as trying to slow down from an accelerated rate of speed while having one’s brake pedal go straight to the floor. No deceleration on tap = “Rats.”
I decided to end my session early after coming over the corkscrew, brake pedal sinking unresponsively to the floor, with little perceptible slowing as I came down the hill into the turns… So, I just slammed the gas pedal to the floor and hoped for the best. Luckily, it was enough to get me through the corners, and I subsequently pulled in to pit lane and called it a day.
(NOTE TO SELF: Do a cool-down lap when brakes go bye-bye, it helps them cool better/faster. And upgrade brake fluid before going on the track again.)
Before I fried my slowing system, my adrenaline-addled brain managed to log both my shift and braking points as I allegedly sped around the track. I don’t believe I was passed by anyone, and made some (arguably) great passes on others, including a ZR-1 (who waved me by) and an Audi A8 that I beat out of the corkscrew with a better drive and finally passed at the end of the front straight.
All in all, it was a good day. I got back out on the track again, experienced what it’s like to go fast without fear of reprisal from The Man, and didn’t embarrass myself too much. A good day, indeed.
Of course, as a result of my re-awakening, I pretty much have lost any spare funds I might have had…
Oh well. =)
(Special Thanks to Hsun for the pix)
